Beholding the lady who beheld Our Lady

TERESITA CASTILLO. Former Carmelite postulant. Daughter of the former Governor of Batangas. A lady filled with vigor and joy. 

Some might know her as such. But for everyone, she is no-less than the nun who saw the Blessed Virgin for many times in 1948, during her apparitions in Lipa Carmel in the Philippines. At that time, Mary introduced herself as MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACE. This series of apparitions was accompanied by numerous wonders and miracles, above them all the famous shower of rose petals. Despite the decision of the Church authorities in 1951 to the non-authenticity of the apparitions (the declaration can be found somewhere else in the internet), the Filipino still showed his love and admiration for Our Lady which lasts until the present, with hopes that the Church would reconsider its verdict.

Almost all the first-hand witnesses passed away since then. All, but Sr. Teresing. Despite the criticism of people who had little knowledge to the apparitions, who fabricate hoaxes throughout the past decades, Sr. Teresing remained silent and calm. She did not go public, except on few occasions when she was invited to talk on the mystic encounters with the Virgin Mary. She became a low-profile person, living in the suburbs of Manila with adopted daughter Grace and some relatives. Everyone wanted to see her, ask her prayers for many concerns, but her health condition and advanced age made it impossible. For everyone, it was really suntok sa buwan.

But God, in his great goodness, granted me and my friend Migs a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and hear Sr. Teresita, in a circumstance not prepared by our strength, but according to His gracious plan. The story surrounding this encounter, for me, is more than a 'meet-and-greet' situation; it's God's will prevailing in every minute, so precious, so unforgettable.

Grad Pics Madness. xD

My words on the latest turnover of events after February 2014

Let me just make things clear, these are facts.

On February of this year, some people tried to underscore me by putting up a blogsite, and there, shouting issues against me and my morals. Despite the noise it created, and the pain it brought to my person because of these people who are more than willing to trample me down, I went in total silence and mortification.

As the months passed, these same people made dummy FB accounts showing the same content, with fake accounts liking the same content. These went to my attention, thanks to the concerned people and friends who stood by my side.

Likewise, I recount an incident during the Feast of Our Lady of the Abandoned at Santa Ana, Manila last May 12, 2014, when a man recklessly tried to video me for reasons unknown. This is a shout of foul over my privacy during the celebration, as they were looking around during the incident.

With a few or no words at all, I watched as they continually try to lambaste my name and dignity on the sight of other people. I put all these things into prayer, and longed for the day these people would be sorry for their deeds.

That day indeed came on July 13, 2014, when Mr. Ryan Mariano talked to my friend asking for my forgiveness on everything they did. He pointed out that this is because of Mr. Marc Anthony Pascua, who forced him to ridicule me online as a way of helping him get back on me. Mr. Mariano wanted to seek my forgiveness and help me teach Mr. Pascua a lesson. Since I blocked these people on Facebook, Mr. Mariano persuaded my friend to relay this message to me and seek my response.

After a period of constant prayer and reflection, I only have this to say. 

I FORGIVE YOU. I will not provide any more passages from Scripture to explain this. I think it is enough for me to say these three words, despite the pain you and your acts brought on my person, to show what a real Christian must be, forgiving others and continually showing concern for them.

With these things said, I would now like to ask everyone, especially those people involved in the incidents of the past, to please respect my privacy with regards to the same. I wish to let go of all the pain as it continues to dwell inside me. I long to move on with my life, and continue my ministry as a servant of God and His Church. Wounded as I am, in the midst of challenges and sickness I'm facing, I know the Lord will provide us with the grace to move forward and live grace after grace.

I pray for enlightenment, not only for everyone, but most especially, for myself. Even if the marks of the past would be carried over forever, we can still start anew with God's grace hovering over all of us.

May God bless us!

15 July 2014

Independence Day with Our Lady

June 12, 2014. 

As some of you may know, I and my mom visited Lipa Carmel today. After some errands, we went up the viewing area, where we could see the Apparition Site of Our Lady. We prayed the Rosary together, afterwards I went forward to have a moment of contemplation with Mama Mediatrix.

I thought of offering a song for Mary, and the song which entered my mind was the "Ave Maria ng Lipa," composed by Migs. This might not be the first time the song reached Carmel, but I believe this is the very first time that this song is played publicly near the Site of the Apparitions.

I was singing along with the vocals of the song, when all of a sudden, at the first "Ave," a gentle wind blew over the area. The scent of roses was evident. Above all, the bells rang, as if heaven was singing along with me and the vocals (though I checked on the clock and it's the 11:00 AM bell; I wasn't aware of the time, so to speak).

At that, we committed ourselves to continue spreading the love and the messages of Mama Mediatrix, especially in the Malabon-Navotas area. It's a wonderful and empowering moment for both of us. And we want to share this with everyone who loves Mary and wants to help us spread devotion to her.

‪#‎AveMARIA!

Me and my mom at the Site of the Apparitions at Lipa.

A day inside my world... :p

iTUNE: Grand Eucharistic Adoration 2014

It seems that this year would be filled with pilgrimages. Travels left and right occupy my once-vague weekends nowadays, and so I return to my blog to have them all recorded.

January 11, 2013

It was an exciting day, not because I can take a rest from the heavy week that was, but because I can go around again. Today, I went to Dom Bosco Technoligical Institute in Makati for the Second Grand Eucharistic Adoration. This program, under the Don Bosco Days with the Lord Movement, aims to bring Christ to the youth in a very authentic manner: that of adoring His Body in the Blessed sacrament.

It was preceded by a Youth Festival, featuring different youth groups. Like a cellphone app, the Festival was divided into different 'apps' which any pilgrim could 'download,' that is, experience and learn with.

Youth listen to the songs by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry

Youth serving youth: A volunteer shares the life of the saints
whose relics were exposed prior to the Adoration.

Leaving my own mark at the YouthPinoy! booth

At nighttime, the youth gathered around the Sacred Host, singing hymns and reciting prayers. It was like a special moment for everyone who wished to come HOME.

The Lord enthroned for adoration of his faithful.

One of the main highlights of the adoration is the activity,
'touching of the cloak.' Like the woman with hemorrhage who
touched the Lord's clothes and was healed, the people were given the rare chance
to touch the Lord's cloth and entrust to him the desires of their hearts.

In our society in dire need of comfort and solace, activities like this remind us of the One which we really need to provide us peace: Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!

Kudos to the Salesian Community for such a remarkable experience!

From a devotee to the devotees and everyone else.

Photo not mine.

A Hijo was heard to have said yesterday: NASASAKTAN NA ANG POON.

Really, after the image was hit to steel bars and almost dragged to the floor only for devotees to kiss. Really, after its cross was almost broken because of few who wished to wipe their towels to it while heading its way to the andas.

If only this image is actually Our Lord Jesus, it would have experienced more than what He experienced almost two thousand years ago. 

While it is true na I retract my words from last year, here we are confronted again by this situation where some devotees went wild just to get the procession started. People will never understand it until he becomes a devotee himself, but remember that devotion - and everything else for that matter - should lead us to the Holy Eucharist. It should NOT end in the image per se, but go deeper towards the Holy Mass.

People are saying, also, na Quiapo is not always full except on Fridays where Devotees come in. Uhm, did they even visit the church on a regular day? The number is less, yes, but you can never see a day where that church doesn't have any people inside, even at night.

Guys, instead of bashing, what if we ourselves join the initiative to help form the devotees, especially the newbies? It starts with us. Why do these things go on and on every year? The answer depends on us. The Quiapo Parish, I guess, is having its part on doing this, how about us?

Sorry, I respect every devotee, but please not to this level. Devotion to the image of the Nazarene must lead us to the total love for the Lord shown in the Holy Eucharist, and to a sincere love for our neighbor. No more, no less.